SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Justice and Peace shall flourish in His Time
Fr. Udoekpo, Michael Ufok
v Isa. 11:1-10,
v Ps. 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17;
v Rom. 15:4-9
v Matt. 3:1-12
The Responsorial Psalm of
today, “Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace
forever” (Ps 72.7) sets hopeful tone of peace and freedom for today’s
scripture lessons. It challenges us to
hope. Of course, a tone of hope fulfilled by Christ, the Messiah of Advent on
that day, at that time, – as foretold by all of the Israel’s prophets.
In moments of hopelessness,
frustration and seeming injustice of all kinds in different socio-political
centers of nations, cultures and forms, pains, and loss of our loved ones or jobs- what do
we do? Hope, endurance, trust, patience for that day, the Day of the Lord! It
is to such moments that the first reading, Isaiah 11:1-10 points
to.
When the Israelite of the
8th century BC were threatened, with war, violence, exile, acts of
injustice- the message and the solution was the hope prophesied by Isaiah, that
“a shout shall sprout from the stump of Jesse and from its roots a bud
shall blossom. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom
and understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge
and of fear of the Lord… He shall judge the poor with justice and decides aright
for the land afflicted.”
What a spirit of Advent!
What a message of Advent? That prophesied by Isaiah in this first reading came
to be in the birth of Christ, heralded by John the Baptist, in today’s Gospel, Matthew
3:1-12. Christ is so unique that John will not even be able to undo the
stripe of his sandals. Unlike John, Christ will baptize not with just ordinary
water, but with the Holy Spirit- that brings us, all of humanity- peace, joy,
oneness, unity, togetherness, good health of mind and body. In fact, it brings
us all the fruits of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord, particularly
courage.
Of course, it
is such courage at least to wait for, hope for, fight for, and
persevere for... that moment of the coming, of the advent of the Messiah, that
Paul inclusively speaks of in the second reading, saying, “May the God of
endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another in
keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….welcome one another then as Christ
welcome you… so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy” (Rom
15:4-9).
In our various challenges
in life: ill health, poverty, loss of jobs and employment, political
instability, bias media, corrupt governments, wars and threats of war,
terrorism, violent and divisiveness- Advent invites us to hope. Advent invites
us to endure, to forgive, to love, to unite. Advent invites us to listen to the
prophets, models of Advent- John the Baptists, Mary, prepare with them, repent
and trust in the Lord. Above all, Advent invites us to hope for that day, when
justice, love, mercy, kindness shall flourish with fullness of peace forever!
Reflection Questions:
1. How do we react when we
feel we have been unjustly treated?
2. Can you identify any acts
of injustice in your parish community and how to overcome it?
3. How can you
help generate hope, unity, peace and endurance in this season of
Advent, in your community?
